It should seem that sharks are used to bad news by now. So perhaps there's no better a time than now for some good cheer. Indeed, a recent study from Brazil suggests promise in a humane, non-lethal, and impressively successful method to keep beaches clean of attacks -- without putting a bullet in anyone's brain.

There's nothing wrong with a group of people standing against torture and abuse -- there's nothing wrong with lobbying for humane alternatives -- there's nothing wrong with strongly, perhaps loudly advocating on behalf of the defenseless animals who exist at the receiving end of our collective selfishness and gluttony.

Do the over 9 billion animals farmed in the United States each year require less protection? No. Should we allow them to endure extreme cruelty during their lives just because they're destined for slaughter? Certainly not.

I'm willing to grant that the turtles will probably survive the experience. But if it isn't cruel, it's certainly tasteless, in the non-culinary way. This is not the relationship we're supposed to have with living things. They are not here to be treated like some kind of moving furniture.

What if environmentalists are ignoring the largest contributing factor to global climate change? It's a provocative question sure to offend the sensibilities of those who view themselves as staunch defenders of the planet.

The Equine Voices Rescue & Sanctuary has seen unspeakable cruelty. One horse arrived at the sanctuary with a fractured skull after being beaten with a two-by-four and dragged behind a truck. Another arrived with untreated third degree burns from a stable fire.

Shooting stray dogs is common practice in Iran. However, now the northwestern city of Tabriz has become the first and only city in the country to outlaw killing street dogs. It's all thanks to the efforts of one Iranian woman who is campaigning for those who can't speak for themselves.

If the emotional abuse of baby monkeys is similar enough to the abuse of baby humans for the results to be extrapolated, how can it be OK? Bullies must be stopped, not rewarded, and taxpayer funding of their assaults is unconscionable.

Although it's too late to prevent the current epidemic in West Africa, perhaps we can prevent another one if we take a moment to look at how Ebola and many other infectious diseases arrive on our doorstep in the first place: through the trade in animals.

The Black-crowned Night Heron rookery above in Oakland made national news when a tree-trimming company cut down nesting trees and nearly tossed live baby herons into the wood chipper. Some chicks survived the near-massacre unharmed. This bird is one of those, but the drama in his young life wasn't done yet!